Light switch status

["Martyn Wendon" <martynwendon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been using HomeEasy RF wireless kit for several years along with
the
excellent RFXCOM Receivers / Transmitters for PC control, but up until now
haven't done anything with lighting.

I've started to replace my light switches with HomeEasy dimmers which allow
local on / off / dim control as well as being controllable by PC.

None of the HomeEasy kit supports "status" so if a lightswitch is
controlled
locally the PC doesn't know that fact and this is presenting me with some
challenges, particularly as if I send an "On" command to a
lightswitch that
is already on, it goes into a dimming cycle....

I guess the above is similar to how X10 started out, so I'm looking for any
ideas on how to get the status back into the PC in some way....maybe light
sensors in each room....or somehow detecting the electric is on to the
light
in question?


Failing that, I'm not averse to using a different technology for lighting,
but would want:

1) wireless RF
2) something simple to retrofit without requiring re-wiring (all of my
light
switches are switched live only, so I only have live and load at the
switch)
3) local control on / off / dim
4) remote control on / off / dim
5) status reporting


Cheers,

Martyn



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